LAMW

This article applies to Android only.

See also: Multiplatform Programming Guide

[[Note|This page comes from the previous tutorial HOW_TO_INSTALL_by_Dieselnutjob.pdf (for Windows). Now it is a Wiki you are welcome to update it when you are sure it works and/or helps. Installation for Linux will be added later, for now you can checkout https://github.com/jmpessoa/lazandroidmodulewizard and read linux/new_how_to_install_by_renabor.txt.}}

LAMW is a set of Lazarus wizards you will launch from menus Build and Tools.

It helps to set parameters, organize libraries and to run the tools required to make APK files, used to install applications on Android.

This installation includes several packages containing components useful to develop Android Programs with Lazarus, using JNI.

How to install on Windows

This is working on Windows 8 and 10 Home Edition 64 bits.

Downloads

Create folders C:\lamw and C:\lamw\projects

Download these files in the folder C:\lamw :

• SDK 24.4.1
• NDK r10e
• Ant 1.9.6
• jdk-8u65-windows-i586.exe Jdk 8u65
• Laz4Android 1.5-50093-FPC3.1.1

Important Notes :

Versions specified here are currently working, although some of them are old and even hidden by their creator/publisher.

But the latest stable versions are not always compatible with the tool (NDK at least).

If a more recent stable version is found working well, please update the Wiki.

You may have already the kits installed somewhere else on your computer. It might lead to problems if you try to re-use them. The safer is to make new downloads in c:\lamw. Be aware to use the corresponding versions and do not use shortcuts previously installed with other versions.

Get sources

You must get LAMW sources using one of the 3 methods listed below. They contain the wizards and the 3 packages.

Checkout with a git client

This is the preferred method. We use here Git Gui, but you can use other easier tools like Tortoise GIT.

1. create a folder C:\lamw\lazandroidmodulewizard
2. click right on this folder
3. click "GIT Gui here"
4. click "Clone existing repository" and enter https://github.com/jmpessoa/lazandroidmodulewizard in the source location.
5. select the folder C:\lamw\lazandroidmodulewizard

Checkout with a svn client

Not sure this is still working...

With Tortoise SVN

https://github.com/jmpessoa/lazandroidmodulewizard to C:\lamw\lazandroidmodulewizard

Extract zip

An alternate method is to download this zip file in c:\lamw and to extract into the (default) folder C:\lamw\lazandroidmodulewizard

You will have to do this often, because there are often LAMW updates, and you will not have any source manager functionalities to check quickly updates or to be involved into the project.

Installations

Extract android-sdk_r24.4.1-windows.zip in c:\lamw\android-sdk-windows

Extract android-ndk-r10e-windows-x86.zip in c:\lamw\android-ndk-r10e-windows-x86

Extract apache-ant-1.9.6-bin.zip in c:\lamw\apache-ant-1.9.6

Extract laz4android1.5-50093-FPC3.1.1.7z to C:\lamw\Laz4Android

Execute jdk-8u65-windows-i586.exe . It will install the JDK to C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.8.0_65\

Update Java development kits

run C:\lamw\android-sdk-windows\SDK Manager.exe

1. deselect Android N (API 23 N Preview)
2. deselect Android 6.0 (API 23)
3. select Android SDK Platform-tools
4. select Android SDK Build-tools
5. select Extras/Android Support Library [if found...]
6. select Extras/Google USB Driver
7. click Install 4 packages [3 packages if Android Support Library not found]
8. Accept license and click Install
9. wait for downloads to finish
10. Exit SDK Manager

Run C:\lamw\android-sdk-windows\SDK Manager.exe again

1. deselect Android N (API 23 N Preview)
2. deselect Android 6.0 (API 23)
3. expand Android 4.2.2 (API 17)
4. select SDK Platfrom
5. select ARM EABI v7a System Image
6. click Install 2 packages
7. Accept license and click Install
8. wait for downloads to finish
9. Exit SDK manager

Build and prepare Laz4Android

Laz4Android is simply an instance of Lazarus.

From Windows, run cmd, then :

cd \lamw\Laz4Android build.bat

When finished, exit cmd mode

Create a shortcut on your desktop for C:\lamw\laz4android\startlazarus.exe

Execute it

Start IDE

Package -> Open package file (.lpk)

select C:\lamw\lazandroidmodulewizard\trunk\tfpandroidbridge_pack.lpk

Compile

Use>> Install

Do you want to rebuid Lazarus now? Yes

Laz4Android will restart

Package -> Open package file (.lpk)

select C:\lamw\lazandroidmodulewizard\trunk\lazandroidwizardpack.lpk

Compile

Use>> Install

Do you want to rebuid Lazarus now? Yes

Laz4Android will restart

Package -> Open package file (.lpk)

select C:\lamw\lazandroidmodulewizard\trunk\ide_tools\amw_ide_tools.lpk

Compile

Use>> Install

Do you want to rebuid Lazarus now? Yes

Laz4Android will restart

Path settings

In Laz4Android:

Tools -> [LAMW] Android Module Wizard -> Path settings

Path to Java JDK: C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.8.0_65

Path to Ant bin: C:\lamw\apache-ant-1.9.6\bin

Path to Android SDK: c:\lamw\android-sdk_r24.4.1-windows

Path to Android NDK: C:\lamw\android-ndk-r10e

NDK version: 10e

Path to Simonsay's templates: C:\lamw\lazandroidmodulewizard\trunk\java

OK.

File -> Restart

Create your first project

In Laz4Android :

Project -> Close project [if necessary]

Project Wizard -> New project

Select JNI Android Module [Lamw GUI]

Click OK

Path to Workspace [Projects Folder]: C:\lamw\projects

New Project Name: LamwGUIProject1

Default Package Name: org.lamw

Include "android-support-v4.jar": no

NDKPlatfom: 17

MinSdkAPI: 17

TargetSdkApi: 17

Instruction: ARMv7a

ARM Fpu: Soft

Android Theme: DeviceDefault

Save unit1.pas

Click Save

Now, if you hover the mouse over any unit in uses clause, IDE will show an error message.

File -> Restart

After restart, if you hover the mouse over any unit in uses clause, IDE does not show error message anymore

Drag from Android Bridge a jButton onto form

Events OnClick, double click and add :

procedure TAndroidModule1.jButton1Click( Sender: TObject );
begin
  ShowMessage('Hello World');
end;

File -> Save All

Run -> Build

Target: C:\lamw\projects\LamwGUIProject1\libs\armeabi\libcontrol.so: Success

Note 1 : this Build step is not required, because it will be executed by the next one. However it can help to diagnose an issue.

Note 2 : Before next step, check your Android device is connected to the PC with an USB cable.

Run -> [Lamw] Build APK and run

Building APK...: Success

if ADB is working with your phone, the APK will then be copied, installed and run automatically !

Otherwise, copy C:\lamw\projects\LamwGUIProject1\bin\LamwGUIProject1-debug.apk to some folder of the Android device, and install this file using the device file manager.

Other demos

In C:\lamw\trunk\demos\Eclipse, you will find a lot of projects to help you with the available functionalities.

You have to :

1. Open the project file <project_name>/jni/controls.lpi
2. Goto project options and change NDK paths according your installation
3. Project, Options, LAMW Project configuration and check the Target SDK API which must be the same as installed above.
4. Run, Build the project. As the "Hello World" above, it should copy, install and run the application on the Android device.
5. Try it !

If you get the message "Application has stopped", it can be useful to goto Tools, [LAMW] Android Module Wizard, Upgrade Code templates

Select the directory containing examples and a project and click "OK".

Then build again, and it should work !